Objectives:

1. Stimulate them to be aware of the spiritual journeys of others and the roles we can play in their lives.
2. Understand the CoJourner paradigm, identifying the four primary roles.
3. Begin to pray consistently for opportunities to be an effective witness in the lives of others.

Section 1: Spiritual Journeys

Discuss: True or false: “Everyone is on a spiritual journey.” Why? God has created people as spiritual beings. Therefore, life is a spiritual journey. Some may be moving toward God, others away. Some may be moving toward other so-called “gods” or stuck in a spiritual quagmire. But everyone is on a spiritual journey. But we don’t always recognise that in others.

Discuss: What evidence have you seen recently in the lives of others that demonstrate that everyone is on a spiritual journey?

Tell Stories: Share examples from 2 or 3 incidents that reveal others (pre-Christian) on spiritual journeys

Optional Insights: Share insights from research findings. Such as:

STUDENTS HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO KNOW GOD
If asked to rate their desire to know God on a scale of 1-10, the most common answer by today’s student is a 10 (just over 40%). The statistical mean is slightly over an 8.  (QuEST)

STUDENTS SEE THEMSELVES AS ON A SPIRITUAL QUEST.
Only 12% of students do not think of themselves on a spiritual quest. (SpHEd)

STUDENTS ENTER SCHOOL WITH A SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND.
82% of incoming freshmen claim a religious background. The number of incoming freshmen who claim “none” is at a record high 17.6%, compared to 6.6% in 1966.  (SpHEd)

STUDENTS ATTACH INCREASING IMPORTANCE TO SPIRITUALITY DURING COLLEGE.
“A substantial majority of students – 60% in fact—either maintain a strong commitment (29%) or strengthen their commitment (31%), to the value of integrating spirituality into their lives during the first three years of college. Of the remaining 40% of the students are about equally divided between those who maintained their low level of commitment (20%) and those whose level of commitment declined (20%).” (SpHEd)

STUDENTS DISCUSS SPIRITUAL BELIEFS WITH THEIR FRIENDS.
Almost 4 out of 5 (78%) of students discuss religion/spiritual beliefs with friends.  (SpHEd)

STUDENTS DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN OR WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS.
Less than 16% of students identify Jesus in an explanation of how to become a Christian. (QuEST) The number of teens who are evangelical is 4% by Barna research definition, down from 10% in 1995.  (Barna)

[Insights compiled in 2004, drawn from QuEST (CCC – U.S. Campus Ministry); Spirituality in Higher Education: A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose (Higher Education Research Institute of UCLA); Barna Research.]

Observe and discuss the awareness of the disciples from John 4:8, 27, 31-33, 35.

• [4:8] The disciples are sent into town to get lunch. What might they have been thinking? Feeling? What would they have thought about the people of Sychar?
• [4:27] Why were the disciples surprised at Jesus’ conversation with the woman? 
• [4:31ff] After the woman left, the disciples turn their attention to lunch. But Jesus is fully conscious of something the disciples were completely unaware of – they were in the midst of a spiritual harvest. Already the Samaritan village is on its way to meet Jesus [4:30], with many believing in him because of the woman’s testimony [4:39].

1. Why did the disciples miss the reality that the Samaritans were spiritually open to Jesus?
2. More importantly, why are we so unaware of the spiritual journeys of those around us?
3. Why do we miss so many spiritual opportunities? 

Section 2: Pray Through the Obstacles to Evangelism

1. Discuss:  What keeps us from sharing our faith?
2. Summarise:  The five most common obstacles to sharing our faith are...
   1. Desire – we don’t really want to.
   2. Fear – We are afraid of being rejected or turning someone off.
   3. Know-how – We are not sure what to do.
   4. Busyness – We are busy doing other things, many times good things.
   5. Relational disconnectedness – We don’t have the connections to individuals with whom we could share
3. A recent survey of students through Student2Student, students indicated fear as the number one obstacle and busyness the second, followed by lack of desire, lack of training or know-how and finally, not knowing others to share with.
4. What would be your top two? 

Prayer: Turn in small groups of three or four, and pray regarding the things keeping you from being a bold witness. Confess your shortcomings as a witness and ask God for boldness, insight and all you need. 

Section 3: Introduction to the Four Roles

Case Study: Tell a witnessing story of you (or someone else) having the privilege of leading someone to Christ. The best stories would illustrate three or more of the roles. Ask, “What do you observe about the role ______ played in the spiritual journey of _______?” Teach: There are four primary roles that you can play in another person’s spiritual journey – An Explorer; A Guide; A Builder; A Mentor.

The Explorer

As we enter into someone’s spiritual journey, we often don’t know where they are or which way they are going. Draw the question mark and arrows, labelling them “Explorer.” So the first role we play is that of an Explorer. In the ordinary world, what does an explorer do? [Enters into unknown territory to discover, learn and understand.]  Same is true in spiritual arena, except we enter into lives, not land. We need to discover where they are at spiritually.

Illustration: When you are at mall and you look on a big map, what do you look for? The big X that tells you that you are here. That helps you figure out where you’ve been and where you want to go. Spiritually, we want to help others find the big X in their lives. We want to understand they’ve been, where they’re at, so we can help them come to Christ.  That is the role of the Explorer. The two main things an explorer does is ask questions and listen.  Next session we’ll focus on how to be an effective explorer.

The Guide

We know that we want to help them come to Christ. Draw the cross and the arrow leading to the cross, labelling it “Guide.” That is the role of the Guide. What does a guide do? [Shows the way.] A guide is someone who joins with you on a journey, helping show you the way. But a good guide will explain things as you go, helping you understand as they lead you on.  That is the essence of being a witness – showing the way to Jesus, helping someone understand how they may come to Him. What does a guide use? Their own experience (often called a testimony or life story) and the Gospel. So in our third session we will focus on being a more effective guide.

The Builder

When a person is on a journey and comes to an obstacle, say a river, what do they need to continue on? [A bridge.] The same is true spiritually. There are all kinds of obstacles that keep people from coming to Jesus – Intellectual issues; Emotional baggage; Competing desires; etc. When we are sharing with someone and discover they are stuck because of some kind of issue, we don’t give up and check out of their spiritual journey. Rather we seek to deal with the issue, that is, we provide a bridge over that issue so they can continue to move toward Christ. How? Through prayer and gentle persuasion. Prayer is important because no matter what the issue is, the enemy (the devil) seeks to use it as a way of blinding them and keeping them in spiritual bondage. Prayer unleashes God’s power. But our part is through gentle persuasion—not coming at them as if we have to win an argument, but coming beside them and helping them get beyond the issue. We use the fourth session to deal with becoming a more effective Bridge Builder.

The Mentor

When a person comes to Christ, their spiritual journey is not over – rather it is just beginning. Now they need help and encouragement to continue to follow Christ. That is the role of the Mentor. The Mentor encourages new believers in their spiritual journey. The two primary resources for the mentor are foundational concepts and body connections. The new believer needs to develop significant connections with other believers – Christian friends and a Christian community. He also needs grounded in foundational truths for the Christian life. We will use the fifth and final session to explore being an effective Mentor for others. 

Section 4 – Relational Networks

On a large pad, brainstorm together your relational networks, that is, groups of people you relate with. Put each group in an interlocking circle. [Family; neighbours; classmates; fellow-workers; social activities; sports and recreation teams; doctors; hairdressers; etc.] Have them take a sheet of paper and begin to write names of people in circles on their sheet of paper. If there is time, have them break in small groups and share examples of evidence of spiritual interest among the individuals on their papers.

Section 5 – Prayer Launch

Have them begin a list of individuals who they will pray regular for, seeking the opportunity to be a witness (or a spiritual CoJourner) with them. Write down only those that you sense God is giving you a special burden to pray for regularly. Break into prayer groups and begin praying for: 

• The individuals on their lists.
• Additional divine appointments – the unexpected opportunities that God orchestrates to witness to spiritually open.
• There are additional requests on the student notes.

Assignment:

Pass out the CoJourner resource: Passages: A Devotional Journey. Have them begin using Passages: A Devotional Journey during their daily quiet times with the Lord.

 

Navigation

• Agapé
• Knowing God Personally
• Move!
• Move Your Campus
• Move With Friends
• Share Your Faith
• Practical Discipleship
• Journeying Together
• An Introduction
• The Explorer
• The Guide
• The Builder
• The Mentor
• Online Resources
• Be Moved
• Walk this Way